ANTI-ALCOHOL RULES
Alcohol banned in 110 parksBy Janjira Pongrai
Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong
-The Nation 2010-12-28New regulation not only bars sale of
drinks but restrains visitors from taking drinks in Most of Thailand's 110 national parks, including Khao Yai, have been declared alcohol-free zones.
Not only will there be a ban on booze sales, but visitors will also be barred from bringing
drinks into the parks, Natural Resource and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti told a news conference yesterday.
However, some senior officials said this might not apply at national parks where the private sector rents places for business, such as at Koh Samet.
The parks used to earlier seek "the cooperation of visitors to avoid
drinks". The proactive stance followed the case of an engineering student who stabbed someone to death in Khao Yai National Park during a loud drinking party among student campers on December 26 Sunday.
Talking at the news conference about safety measures at national parks from now until January 5, Suwit said the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department had yesterday announced the alcohol ban, so as to prevent drinking tourists from making noise and disturbing other campers or wildlife.
Those violating the regulation will be punished with up to one month in jail and/or a Bt1,000 fine, he said.
"From now on, all national parks will be free from alcohol forever, not only during the New Year period. We want the parks to be natural retreats," he said.
"In the past, we used to ask tourists not to bring in
beverages, but many still smuggled them in and caused disturbance to others. So we want tourists to understand that the parks are now alcohol-free zones and violators will be punished."
Affirming that park officials were also prohibited from drinking and selling booze, Suwit said that if there were any sale of alcohol in the parks, the park chiefs and involved persons would be punished. Tourists could also report violation of the ban via the hotline 1362 around the clock.
The move was welcomed by anti-alcohol advocates. Offering condolences to the young victim's family, Songkran Pakchokdee, director of the Anti-Alcohol Organisations Network, praised Suwit's brave move to impose the ban despite some criticism.
"We support the ministry's stance to protect tourists and natural resources because we must choose between safety and letting
beverages be available and causing problems, including scattered garbage and injuries to tourists or wild animals."
He also suggested that the ministry contact the Public Health Ministry to issue a regulation according to the Alcohol Beverage Control Act 2008's Articles 27 and 31 to ban alcohol sales in national parks and impose six months' jail or/and a Bt10,000 fine on violators.
Sittichai Sereesongsaeng, chief of Chiang Mai's Doi Phahompok National Park, commented that the alcohol ban might be applicable to parks where the private sector did not conduct business in the park area. For example, in Koh Samet park, businesses rented space legally, hence forcing them not to sell alcohol would be difficult, while it could be easily implemented at Doi Phahompok, as only four or five people currently sold booze in the area.
Khao Yai National Park chief Manoch Gantanakngan said this was a good regulation and would not affect the number of tourists coming to Khao Yai because that number was overwhelming. He said national parks should be free from alcohol and cigarettes.
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